Brought to you by A Lot Media and MetroClick, leaders in digital engagement and smart city immersive solutions.

Parking Systems as Digital Front Doors

Traditionally, parking garages and lots were seen as passive utilities.  Today, with automated parking systems and digital parking solutions, they’re becoming active information hubs — the new “digital front doors” to cities, landmarks, and travel destinations where real-time relevance meets first-impression impact.

By combining mechanical parking systems with interactive kiosks and dynamic signage, operators can transform underutilized spaces into high-value touchpoints that guide visitors, promote local businesses, deliver context-aware experiences, and influence positively traveler behaviors.

First Impressions Through Smart Parking Garages

Once just a logistical necessity, parking lots and garages are now being reimagined as digital information hubs — dynamic spaces that deliver relevant, real-time information that matters to travelers, tourists, and even local residents.

Your parking garage system is often the first stop for travelers and tourists.  Whether visiting a landmark or checking into a hotel, modern automated parking garages equipped with intuitive wayfinding, clean design, and digital signage set the tone immediately — when done right, this tone can immediately convey trust, safety, and welcome.

• For travelers: Less stress, faster orientation, and an easier start to their journey.
• For brands: A strong first impression that improves perception and engagement.
• For tourism operators: A visible commitment to professionalism and visitor satisfaction.

Automated Parking Solutions that Inform and Engage

Forget outdated maps or confusing directions. A robotic garage or automatic parking system enhanced with interactive kiosks delivers hyper-local, real-time visitor information — tailored to the time of day and the user’s interests. By reducing friction with more relevant, timely information, traveler visits can be made more seamless and enjoyable right from the start by easily seeing and obtaining:

• Restaurant specials and local offers in real-time
• Live event schedules and ticketing
• Wayfinding to nearby attractions and hotels
• Weather and traffic updates

These car parking solutions connect travelers with what they need, exactly when they need it — while giving brands and local businesses a new channel to engage.

Personalized Experiences with Digital Parking Systems

Today’s automated vehicle parking systems are more than mechanical efficiency — they’re interactive and personalized platforms.  AI-powered insights allow smart garages to tailor content to the traveler, thereby enabling interaction, not interruption.  Imagine pulling into a parking spot and receiving:

• Multilingual wayfinding for international visitors
• Accessibility features for inclusivity
• Personalized notifications (“Welcome back — coffee shops nearby are offering a discount!”)

This human-centered approach turns parking into an extension of the travel experience, making the environment feel smart and intuitive rather than overwhelming and a hassle.

Overcoming “Screen Blindness” in Parking Environments

Digital spaces risk overwhelming visitors with too much content, resulting in desensitizing the visitor to simply ignore the digital noise.  Effective automated parking lot systems prioritize clarity, brevity, and contextual relevance to:

• Show only what’s meaningful to the traveler’s immediate need.
• Use light, motion, and location triggers to engage — not overwhelm.
• Provide deeper options without forcing interaction.

When paired with mechanized parking systems, these hubs create intuitive, stress-free user flows with perceived high value.

The Role of AI in Automated Parking Systems

Artificial intelligence is at the core of the autonomous parking system revolution.  It’s the engine that drives context and personalization.  AI can help:

• Interpret behavior and predict traveler needs.
• Adjust content by demographics and time of day.
• Manage traffic flow and suggest alternate routes during peak times.

Together, automated car parking systems and AI create responsive ecosystems that go far beyond vehicle storage — they shape traveler experiences.

Who Benefits from Automated Parking and Digital Hubs?

When parking is reimagined as a more personalized, digital ecosystem with the traveler at the center of the strategy, every stakeholder gains:

• Travelers: Reduced stress, better orientation, richer experiences.
• Brands: Increased visibility and connection, location-based offers, higher engagement.
• Tourism owners: Smarter visitor flow management and reputation boost.
• Local businesses: More foot traffic, more revenue per visitor, data-driven marketing to reach more people.

Conclusion: Parking as the Start of the Journey

Automated parking solutions are no longer just about cars.  With the right blend of mechanical parking systems, digital signage, user-centric design, and AI, parking becomes a powerful platform that enhances travel, strengthens brand engagement, and enriches tourism ecosystems.

In our upcoming posts, we’ll explore how destinations can:

• Improve visitor experiences with immersive automated parking systems.
• Enhance awareness of local businesses through connected platforms.
• Unlock new revenue by monetizing user touchpoints.

In this new era of smart parking garages, your first stop might also be your most informative one.

MetroClick offers a digital payment station to facilitate payments and donations at a variety of institutions, organizations, and businesses. The interactive sanitizing station presents a limitless long-term application for the seamless distribution and management of digital content. The immediate use of MetroClick’s technology is to help ensure the safe and responsible continuation of events while allowing individuals to minimize the transmission of COVID-19.

Learn more about the MetroClick Digital Payment Station.

MetroClick Content Manager is an all-in-one content management and distribution system for our kiosk series. The system distributes web-based content or native kiosk applications reliably and securely to public self-service kiosks. MetroClick Content Manager allows a client to configure and manage all the digital displays from a single, secure web-portal. This ensures that a client’s digital network is secure and scalable to meet your needs.

MetroClick Manager (MCM) allows you to easily group and assign your devices to manage everything from your entire signage portfolio to store specific signage to each individual display. This allows you to easily segment and specify content across your entire network. Up-to-the-minute reporting accessible through the MCM dashboard allows you to have the tools necessary to monitor the health and status of your network.

Learn more about MetroClick digital content management system.

The real-time deployment of content was particularly evident during a 4-day period in early May where content for Wild Turkey Bourbon was able to run on May 1st, capitalizing on interest in the Bourbon category around the Kentucky Derby. Following the race, devices were able to instantly pivot to promoting content for Espolon Tequila in celebration of the Cinco De Mayo holiday. Each device receives content via wifi connection and MetroClick’s proprietary software and content management system (CMS).

Content has also been deployed for Grand Marnier, Aperol, Wild Turkey, and Appleton Rums across the network. Retailers report an enhanced in-store experience while promoting customer connection and engagement as well as incremental growth in sales for the brands featured.

February 3, 2021

Media Contact:
Ronald Margulis
RAM Communications
+1 908.272.3930
ron@rampr.com

MetroClick Launches Interactive Smart Cooler, Bringing Digital Media to Store Shelves

Smart Coolers boost sales, improve interaction with customers, enhance in-store experience and provide actionable analytics in test at leading retailer by top beverage marketer

NEW YORK – Consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies have long supported retailers’ efforts to replicate the benefits of the online interactive shopping experience in the physical store. Dynamic in-store digital experiences such as state-of-the-art interactive smart coolers enable the retailer and brand partners to break through the noise of the marketplace and get their messaging to the customer.

The new MetroClick Interactive Smart Coolers feature a standard refrigerated case with an innovative transparent LCD on the door that is attached to a commercial grade network media player and external speakers. The door display screen is currently being trialed at a top five retailer by a leading beverage marketer, which is looping calls to action for the brand’s products and apps. The content will soon be customized for each location depending on product assortment and co-branding.

“Brands and retailers have lofty goals for the Interactive Smart Coolers, including revolutionizing the shopper’s in-store digital experience and growing loyalty. By using the latest touchscreen technology and ultimately enabling customized messaging based on smartphone opt-in campaigns, we expect the companies will see a quick ROI on each installed unit,” said Taylor Miller, Partner and COO at MetroClick.

The MetroClick Interactive Smart Coolers currently in test markets replace non-digital units and are already increasing sales and shopper engagement at retail locations in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Nashville, Tallahassee and Normal, IL. Additional locations for the cases will be announced shortly.

“CPG companies invest significant resources to bring the latest brand merchandising tools to retail customers and consumers. Our inventive way to communicate messaging at the point-of-purchase is already enhancing the connection with the shopper. The vertical canvas is perfect to adapt social media content, not to mention zero waste comparing digital content with traditional printed advertising,” said Jesse Cooper, Partner and CEO at MetroClick.

The software for the Interactive Smart Coolers manages the user interface, collects data on each interaction and helps the brands and the retailers optimize the way each case is stocked with product and used as a messaging platform. It has a wide range of communications capabilities, from straightforward advertising and product promotion to customizable offerings transferred to a mobile device.

“The proliferation of innovative offerings in all beverage categories creates the need for brand owners to differentiate themselves in key retail environments like convenience stores, supermarkets and beer, wine and spirit shops. The MetroClick Interactive Smart Cooler is designed to influence in-store shopper behavior wherever chilled products are sold, giving marketers the ability to deliver customized messaging that engages consumers in real-time,” said Ken Aufiero, Beverage Channel Executive at MetroClick.

About MetroClick

MetroClick merges hardware manufacturing capabilities and an in-house software development team to create the highest levels of digital communications functionality, customization and versatility. The company helps companies in a wide range of industries tell their unique stories to their customers to create engagement and boost brand impact. From retail and hospitality to stadiums and financial services institutions, MetroClick’s team has the expertise to help create desired customer experiences one touch at a time. More information is available at https://www.metroclick.com/.

Take a moment to read our recent article on the Winsight Grocery Business website [source]:

Traditional brick-and-mortar retail locations are constantly remodeled and retooled to reflect changes in demographics, as well as consumers’ tastes and standards. Throw in the frequent introduction of new technologies, and whether it’s grocery, apparel, club warehouses, c-store, high-end luxury, casual dining or big-box mass merchandiser, the result is a retail environment that has always been in a continuous state of reinvention.

 

Even given this state of nearly perpetual change, things have shifted dramatically now. As the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, the anticipated resumption of in-store physical retailing can be better described as a complete reset, rather than a resumption or restart. A restart implies that the pandemic was a pause and that things will once again return to normal. Survival now rests on reducing liability and increasing safety as much as increasing profitable sales. When it comes to the matter of in-store layout, the “retail reset” entails a huge shift in priorities, away from merchandising and oriented toward safety.

Read more…

NEW YORK – As shoppers shift to ecommerce in droves during the pandemic, retailers with physical locations  need a strategy to bring them back to their aisles. It is imperative for retailers to make the process of going through the store efficient, engaging, stress-free and enjoyable. To help retailers meet these goals, MetroClick/faytech, the creator of dynamic interactive digital experiences, is introducing the EASY Shopper Intelligent Cart solution to the United States and Canada.

Already a big success in Europe, where it was developed by Pentland Firth Software GmbH, the EASY Shopper cart adds advanced mobile solutions such as such self-scanning and interactive displays to the modern shopping wagon. With EASY Shopper, the customer shops without having to repack, can skip waiting in line at the checkout, gets personalized promotions and messaging, can quickly get help and always sees exactly what she has purchased. EASY Shopper has been operational for more than three years at a leading European retailer and has increased customer revenue by 11.6%, freed up 50 % of the cashier staff to support the customer on the shop floor and lowered theft rate by 60%.

“Everything about the EASY Shopper cart is designed to build interaction with customers — from the synching of the shopping list from your phone to the cart or using your phone as an enhanced scanner, to the customized displays that draw on shopping behavior to make the entire process as productive and enjoyable as possible,” said Taylor Miller, Partner and COO at MetroClick/faytech NA. “In short, EASY Shopper really brings the online experience into the store.”

Among the many benefits of the EASY Shopper cart are cashier-less checkout, running tab of basket, instant sales notifications, synching of shopping lists, built in barcode scanner, interactive map of the store and more. Each of these functions also help the retailer collect analytics that enhance the performance their marketing and merchandising operations.

“The success our retail partner in Germany is enjoying with EASY Shopper, which includes larger basket sizes and increased store loyalty, can be easily replicated in North America, as  customers’ needs are very similar on either side of the Atlantic – they want to get value from the retailer and they want to feel engaged with the store,” said Frank Heinrich, CEO of Pentland Firth Software GmbH.

About MetroClick/faytech NA

MetroClick/faytech NA merges hardware manufacturing capabilities and an in-house software development team to create the highest levels of digital communications functionality, customization and versatility. The company helps companies in a wide range of industries tell their unique stories to their customers to create engagement and boost brand impact. From retail and hospitality to stadiums and financial services institutions, MetroClick’s team has the expertise to help create desired customer experiences one touch at a time. More information is available at https://www.metroclick.com/ and https://www.faytech.us.